Supercharging system for internal combustion engines

Abstract

The invention relates to an improvement in internal combustion engines equipped with a compressor for the feeding air, according to which the intake duct is equipped with a heat-exchanging element for cooling the air when the latter is compressed to a comparatively high pressure.

I claim: 
     
       1. A supercharging system for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, said supercharging system having an air capacity which is delivered during non-acceleration and acceleration periods of operating requirements of the internal combustion engine and wherein in the non-acceleration periods of the internal combustion engine air delivered by said supercharging system is only slightly compressed and thus only slightly heated with the air supplied by said supercharging system being available as a coolant; said supercharging system comprising compressor means for supplying air at different pressures and in different volumes to meet different air capacities required during both non-acceleration and acceleration periods of the internal combustion engine, said compressor means having coupled thereto conduit means for delivering air from said compressor means to the internal combustion engine, and a self-contained heat exchanger means mounted in said conduit means, said heat exchanger means being in the form of an accumulator for absorbing heat of air compressed by said compressor during the acceleration periods and for releasing heat to air slightly compressed by said compressor means during the non-acceleration periods of the internal combustion engine whereby the temperature of the internal combustion engine and the supercharging system is maintained at a low degree and reduces the occurrence of engine knocking phenomena, and said accumulator being in the form of a block composed of an assembly of thin metal walls extending longitudinally of said conduit means and permitting air to flow therebetween. 
     
     
       2. A supercharging system according to claim 1 wherein said conduit means includes a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port, said assembly of thin metal walls being contained with said casing, and said casing forming means for guiding and containing the air stream which flows through said conduit means and sweeps surfaces of said thin metal walls between said inlet port and said outlet port. 
     
     
       3. A supercharging system according to claim 1 wherein said conduit means includes an engine intake manifold, and said accumulator is positioned within said engine intake manifold. 
     
     
       4. A supercharging system according to claim 1 wherein said compressor has a body forming part of said conduit means, and said accumulator is in said body and is engaged by compressed air within said compressor. 
     
     
       5. A supercharging system according to claim 1 wherein said thin metal walls are in the form of low thickness metal sheets having spaced surfaces.